LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Judge Patricia Ann James told a packed courtroom on Wednesday that her decision in the lawsuit regarding the timing of a special election would be coming “quick.”

The lawsuit between Franklin County resident Colt Shelby versus Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Secretary of State Cole Jester claims the special election date set by the governor of June 9, 2026, leaves him without representation in the state legislature.

Arkansas Sen. Bryan King (R-28) was called as a witness and explained how the election date was not only after the legislature’s fiscal session, due to begin April 8, but left the late Sen. Gary Stubblefield’s (R-26) district without representation as committees continued to meet in the Capitol.

King had stated in a September news conference that he had s

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